What is a single-storey extension?

A single-storey extension is a ground-floor addition, usually at the rear of a house, that enlarges a kitchen, living or dining space. Most are built with cavity walls on concrete foundations and finished with a flat roof and roof lantern or a pitched tiled roof.
How much does a single-storey extension cost in North Yorkshire?
In North Yorkshire, a single-storey extension typically costs £1,800–£2,700 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). For a typical 20 m² project that is roughly £36,000–£54,000. We start from a UK-wide guide and adjust it for Yorkshire and the Humber, where labour and materials are typically about 7% below average. Design, structural calculations and council fees are extra.
| Size or type | Guide range |
|---|---|
| Smaller project (14 m²) | £25,000–£38,000 |
| Typical project (20 m²) | £36,000–£54,000 |
| Larger project (28 m²) | £50,500–£75,500 |
| Rate per m² | £1,800–£2,700 |
The main things that change the cost:
- Kitchen, flooring and finishes, which we can include or leave to you
- Glazing: sliding and bifold doors cost more than French doors
- Floor area and the length of new wall
- Ground conditions and foundation depth
Use the guide price tool to see how size and specification change the figure, then ask for a written, itemised quote.
Do you need planning permission for a single-storey extension in North Yorkshire?
Before anything is built in North Yorkshire, we confirm which approvals apply in England. In England a single-storey rear extension is often permitted development: broadly up to 3 metres deep on a semi-detached or terraced house and 4 metres on a detached house, no higher than 4 metres, with eaves no higher than 3 metres within 2 metres of a boundary, and covering no more than half the garden. The larger home extension scheme allows up to 6 or 8 metres if you notify the council first and neighbours have a chance to comment. In conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes the larger home extension route, side extensions and cladding are not permitted development. Flats and houses whose rights have been removed need a planning application, and listed buildings need listed building consent.
Building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control service or a registered building control approver. The work is inspected at key stages, such as foundations, drainage and insulation, and a completion certificate is issued at the end.
At the survey we check your house’s planning history and any restrictions, and tell you which route applies.
What we handle
What we take care of:
- Cavity walls, insulation and roof to current building regulations
- First and second fix electrics, heating and plastering
- Doors, windows and roof glazing installed
- Foundations, drainage and any build-over agreement
- Building control inspections and completion certificate
- Measured survey and design drawings
How long does it take?
Allow 10 to 14 weeks on site for a typical rear extension, after approvals. Before that, surveys, drawings and approvals usually take 6 to 12 weeks, longer if the council asks for changes.
Building in North Yorkshire
Yorkshire and the Humber has stone and brick terraces as well as inter-war and newer estates, so materials matching is an early design question.
Towns we cover in North Yorkshire include York, Middlesbrough, Harrogate, Scarborough, Redcar and Selby.
How it works
- 01
Survey and brief
We visit, discuss your ideas and budget, and survey the property or site at no cost.
- 02
Design and pricing
Design options, then a fixed quote based on the chosen drawings and specification.
- 03
Permissions sorted
Applications, building control and neighbour arrangements, all before the start date.
- 04
Build and sign-off
We run the build to a written programme and hand over the completion certificate.
Questions about single-storey extensions in North Yorkshire
Who approves a single-storey extension in North Yorkshire?
Planning matters in North Yorkshire go to the council covering your address, and the work needs building control approval. We prepare and submit the applications for you.
Is VAT charged on an extension?
Yes. Building work on an existing home is standard-rated, so VAT at 20% applies. Our guide prices include it.
What is a build-over agreement?
If a public sewer runs within 3 metres of the extension, the water company normally has to agree to the work before it starts. We check sewer records during design and apply where needed.
How much does a single-storey extension cost in North Yorkshire?
In North Yorkshire, a single-storey extension typically costs £1,800–£2,700 per m² of floor area, including VAT at 20% (standard rate). A typical 20 m² project comes to roughly £36,000–£54,000. Your fixed price depends on the survey and drawings.
Do I need a party wall agreement?
If you are in England or Wales and the work involves a shared wall, building on the boundary or digging foundations close to a neighbour, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 applies and notices must be served before work starts. We advise on this at the design stage.
